Leeds United: New-boy Sol confident ahead of a ‘crucial’ week

Phil Hay

Sol Bamba insisted he was confident that Leeds United would win their fight against relegation from the Championship but warned the club to be “careful” ahead of a crucial week for his new side.

The Ivory Coast international claimed there was “no worry in the dressing room” after a 1-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday left a five-point gap between Leeds and the division’s bottom three.

United were beaten in contentious circumstances as a questionable display from referee Graham Salisbury marred a tight game but Alex Pritchard’s 65th-minute goal handed Brentford a narrow win, moving the London club up to the fourth in the table.

Leeds go to Reading tomorrow night before returning to Elland Road this weekend for a pivotal meeting with Millwall – the club who lie five points below them in 22nd position.

Bamba, who made his home debut on Saturday following a loan move from Palermo last month, said: “There’s absolutely no worry in the dressing room at all but I think we need to be careful. This league can change very quickly, up or down.

“We definitely need a few more results. We’ve got enough (about us) but you can’t take anything for granted in this league. We still need to show that on the pitch.”

Salisbury overlooked two strong penalty claims from Leeds midfielder Rodolph Austin and also failed to penalise an apparent handball in the build-up to Pritchard’s winning goal.

But Brentford created numerous chances, forcing Marco Silvestri into two anxious saves in the first half and striking a post during a spell of concerted pressure late on.

“Nothing went for us,” Bamba said. “The gaffer (head coach Neil Redfearn) said we need to give a bit more at the front but he’s not putting it on the strikers. It’s about all the team. We need to do more in the final third.

“Brentford are a great team and they deserve to be where they are. They play good football. We’d have been happy with a point.

“We should have been better at keeping the back door shut but we’re a team who like to play as well. I think that’s what cost us. But we’re going to recover and be ready for tomorrow. When you’ve lost a game you want to play as soon as possible.”

The experienced centre-back refused to direct serious criticism as Salisbury, saying: “I don’t like to speak about referees’ decisions. It’s a difficult job. There were some poor decisions but we get on with it.”